Hearing this, Malfurion wore a confident expression. "Too many lives have been lost in the war for Ashenvale. We need to reconsider our relationship with the Orcs. Ashenvale is our land—that is beyond dispute. But there can be many ways to achieve peace. Of course, driving the Orcs out of Ashenvale would be ideal. But after fighting for so long, Tyrande, are you still confident you can drive them out?"
The High Priestess immediately realized what her husband was plotting, but she pretended not to know. She merely hesitated before saying, "Just give me a little more time, and I will definitely reclaim Ashenvale."
"A little more time?" Malfurion mocked. "How much longer can our resources hold out? How long will the funds accumulated over ten thousand years last? There are only elderly and young elves left in the rear, while you have thrown everyone else onto the front lines. Why not give peace a chance? The conflict between us and the Orcs is over this patch of land called Ashenvale. Do we really need everyone to bleed dry for it?"
"You mean to sell Ashenvale to the Orcs?" Tyrande asked with a cold laugh.
"This is not betrayal!" Malfurion said firmly. "It is giving peace a chance. There is no need to exhaust the last of our people's strength over land we have already lost."
"What do you all think?" Tyrande looked at the silent faction that had not supported her when they sat down.
Although no one dared to step forward and speak, their silence itself revealed their stance. Tyrande seemed thoroughly enraged as she shouted, "So you want peace talks. You want to surrender. Have you considered that if the Orcs gain Ashenvale today, they will attack Mount Hyjal tomorrow? If we retreat one step now, we